Maharashtra Government to provide meals to pregnant and lactating tribal women

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Maharashtra Government to provide meals to pregnant and lactating tribal women

Posted:
Monday, November 16, 2015

Maharashtra Government has approved a nutrition scheme for pregnant and lactating tribal women to prevent malnutrition among tribal children. The scheme, a replacement of the ‘Take Home Ration’ (THR) scheme, will now provide 1 hot full cooked nutritious meal to every pregnant woman in third trimester and for first 3 months post delivery to lactating mother in tribal areas.

This initiative by the Tribal Development Department, titled the APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojna, was approved by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This scheme was announced to commemorate a year of the BJP led government.

The scheme will be implemented in anganwadis that fall under Women and Child Welfare Department in 16 districts having tribal population. The scheme would cover 1.8 lakh tribal women across Maharashtra every year.

The meal would be served at flexible time based on the convenience of the beneficiaries in the anganwadis. Earlier, as per the THR scheme, sheera or upma was served. Now, the hot cooked meals will include pulses, rice, fruits, vegetables and boiled eggs with occasional supply of milk. Due to this change, the cost of a meal would increase from Rs 7.92 to Rs 22 per beneficiary.

By targeting the crucial 6 months from the last trimester of pregnancy to first 3 months of lactation, the scheme aims to reduce malnutrition among the tribal children.